Discover Hurley: Priory, Church and Experiences on the Thames

Hurley combines visible traces of medieval history with experiences along the River Thames. The church, priory remains, riverside landscape and Hurley Regatta shape different facets of the village. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Hurley can therefore tailor their stay to different interests: historical discoveries, waterside paths or special events.

Church and priory remains as historical points of reference

St Mary the Virgin Church has an unusual architectural form. The church has neither aisles nor a tower; a bell-turret extension was added later. Numerous Norman features characterise the church, which also contains tombs of the Lovelace family. As a Grade II* listed building, it is recorded in the National Heritage List for England. For visitors interested in culture, it therefore offers a concrete starting point for exploring Hurley’s long history.

The village’s historical significance also includes a priory founded by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1086. Hurley Priory is now a Scheduled Monument. Visible remains include a rectangular moat, fishponds and various buildings. These include the refectory, part of the north range of the cloister dating from around AD 1300, and the priory wall. The complex is regarded as an outstanding example of a monastic complex surrounded by a moat. Remains of the priory buildings have also been incorporated into private homes around the small green next to the church.

Another historical detail is The Olde Bell. The inn dates from 1135 and was built as a guesthouse for the priory. Such individual stories of buildings and places give a stay in Hurley a clear historical thread without requiring you to limit yourself to a single attraction.

River Thames, Hurley Lock and waterside paths

The river has always been important to Hurley’s history; records of a ford date back as far as the 6th century. Today, beyond Marlow, the Thames Path passes through Hurley on the section towards Henley-on-Thames. At Hurley Lock, the path crosses the lock structure via a footbridge, while another bridge leads into the village of Hurley.

From Hurley village, follow the footpath and pedestrian signs for approximately 0.1 miles to Hurley Lock. Visitors to Hurley Lock may use the public car park in Hurley village. Fishing is permitted in the lock area from sunrise to sunset. This information helps with planning your day if you want to combine walks, time by the water and historical sightseeing.

Regatta and a distinctive village tradition

The Hurley Regatta is a long-standing village community tradition on the River Thames in Hurley and has been held since 1973. It is designed for both participation and spectating, and includes races and challenges for people of different ages and with varying levels of experience and confidence. Recent events have included raft races, bathtub races, canoe and kayak races, paddleboard races and catakanu races. For travel planning, this means that depending on the date, you can experience Hurley as a place for peaceful historical discoveries or as the setting for an unusual water-based tradition.

When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore worth considering the pace of travel you want. A holiday apartment suits a stay in which you want to divide your days between the church, priory remains, waterside sections of the path and your own activities. Those primarily interested in history can focus on the architectural evidence of St Mary the Virgin Church and Hurley Priory. For water-related interests, Hurley Lock, the Thames Path, fishing and the regatta offer different reasons to get to know the village more closely.

More local pages to help with your choice

For your further search, you can also include the local pages for Maidenhead, Windsor, Old Windsor, Datchet, Wraysbury, Sunninghill, Sunningdale and Cookham.

For the broader travel overview: Windsor And Maidenhead.